"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 3: 19)
What do the Hardshells and the "Reformed" camp do with these words? How do they deal with them when they teach that a sinner must be regenerated and born again BEFORE he repents, or is converted, or receives remission of sins?
Is the "conversion" here not the same as the new birth or regeneration? Did not our Baptist forefathers believe it to be so? All except the Hardshells?
How does the Hardshell and Reformed "ordo salutis" compare with that given by the apostle? He has this order - repent, conversion, forgiveness. But, can we imagine a sinner who is "regenerated" but who has not yet repented, been converted, justified, and forgiven? I cannot, nor could the bible writers, nor our Baptist forefathers. Only the Hardshell and Reformed brethren can have a man "born again" but not yet converted and forgiven of sin!
No comments:
Post a Comment